Method and apparatus for producing and reading books



1929- v R.- A. FESSENDEN 1,732,302

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND READING BOOKS Original Filed Nov. 10. 1920 gnu Hot Patented Oct. 22, 1929 PATENT OFFICE REGINALD A. FESSENDEN, 0F NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND READING BOOKS Original application filed November 10, 1920, Serial No. 423,186. Divided and this application filed January 8, 1927. Serial No. 159,939. 1

My invention relates to methods and apparatus for recording and reproducing language and pictures and the like, and more particularly to recording and reproducing books and moving pictures, and still more particularly to microscopic reproducible records of books, which I call microphotographic book for the reason that such reproductions are, as will be seen, entirely permanent and durable in contradistinct-ion to the present methods of printing on paper.

This application is a division of my Patent No. 1,616,848 (application filed Nov. 10, 1920) granted Feb. 8, 1927.

The object of my invention is to insure greater efficiency, accuracy, and economy in the production and reproduction of such records and to insure greater durability and convenience in use.

Figure 1 is a partially diagrammatic view showing an arrangement for reading or otherwise utilizing the microphotographic book.

Figure 2 shows a projector adapted for use in this connection.

Figure 3 shows a method of governing, controlling and adjusting the movement or rota tion of the microphotographic book, as they may be conveniently called, and

Figure 4 shows in further detail the means and method of controlling and adjusting the movement or rotation of the microphotographic book.

' Figure 1 shows a suitablemeans for read ing from a herein call a microphotographic book. Here 25 is a suitable source of light, for example a pointolite lamp, 26 is a condenser, 27 a microphotographic book, 26' a projecting lens, 28 a reflecting mirror, 29 a fine ground glass screen, and 30 a shadow box.

This whole apparatus may be arranged to be adapted to an arm chair or placed on a separate movable stand.

To read the microphotographic book 27, it is simply slipped in a slot which'brings it into the position shown and rotated by any suitable mechanical means,- for example by, pressing a finger on'a button after each page is read so as to project the next page.

book which for convenience I will A suitable means for rotating these pages is shown in Fig. 3, where 40 is a little strip of steel cemented to the disk 11 and 19', 19' are the poles of a circular magnet.

This is perhaps better illustrated in Figure 4 in connection with Figure 3. Here the shadow 22 of the microphotographic book, which may be the page itself or a mark beside the page, casts a shadow by means of the reflecting mirror 28 on the selenium cell 41. The variation caused thereby is passed over the wires 50 and 51 in series with the battery 52 and the key 53, which is normally kept closed. to the coil 54, which excites the circular poles 19', 19 and causes the steel strip 40 to be held in place.

The microphotographic book 27 is adjusted by the finger or hand until the shadow-of 22' falls on the selenium cell 41, which action thereupon excites the coil 54 and causes the poles 19, 19 to hold the steel strip 40, and therefore the microphotographic book 27 or disc 27 to which the steel grip is cemented.

When one page is read, the key or push button '53 is opened and the microphotographic book 27 released so that it may be turned or rotated to the next page when the poles 19, 19" again hold the microphotographic book in place. The poles 19, 19" are made circular so that the microphotographic book 27 or disc 27 may be rotated and the steel strip 40 still fall over the poles 19, 19" and beheld in place whatever the position of the disc or microphotographic book may be. The disc 27 or microphotographic book 27 may, therefore, be given a motion of: translation in any direction and rotation as well, without taking the steel strip 40 out of the influence of the action of the poles 19, 19". In this manner the dots 12 of the disc 27, representing separate pages, may easily be rotated by hand into the proper position and held fast. Knowing the general manner in which the pages are laid out or having a slight-view of one to the other, it is a simple matter to bring successively the pages into the field of View and reflect the pages on the ground glass screen of the shadow box 30.

In place of using the photographed page itself to produce the shading, separate dots,

shown in 22, 22', may be used, the shadow of which dots, being projected on the selenium cell 41 of Fig. 1, changes the current in the 'magnetizing coil of the circular magnet 19,

position that is also the inner .surface of the glass plate 33, l

and the two are cemented together under heat and pressure in the manner described above so as to form a chamber in which is onclosed thepointolite lamp 31, the terminals being sealed through the plate 33 and a vacuum produced in the space between the plate and the reflector in the usual manner. This type of projector has the advantage that it gives extremely sharp definition.

By the term book as used herein is meant multiple connected records of all kinds i. e. not only a succession of pages relating to the same matter but a succession of images of any other kind, for example, moving pictures.

The translucent or daylight screen is well known, but it performs new functions and gives new technical effects when used as here 1 shown, as in addition to greatly diminishing the amount of light needed for projection, and greatly diminishing the size of the reading apparatus, it enables the reader to move himself or other objects without cutting out 1 any portion of the projection of the image on the screen. It also enables the screen itself to form the top of a working desk, and enables the reader to lay paper on the screen and to Write or figure on it, while having the book elements conveniently and closely visible. It

has also other advantages.

It will be noted that the shift of the book elements is preferably determined by the motion of the book itself or of its projected image. The determining element 'is therefore a part of the book itself, and not an element external of the book, e. g., the teeth of the gear turning it. This part of the invention is important for a number of reasons, and is found to be much more satisfactory than any simple intermittent movement independent of the book. For example, in making the microphotographic copy from the negative, the positive may and frequently does, chan e its size somewhat. In ordinary photograp s this is a matter of no moment. But in these microphotogranhic books, if a magnification of 250 is used for reading, of only one one-thousandth of an inch will mean a change in the relative position of the images of a full quarter of an inch, which will be very bad, especially with moving pictures, or the like. But by the means here shown, where the shift of the book itself, and preferably the shift of'a book element or dot con trols the amount of said shift, it is evident that the amount of warping is immaterial. This for example, also gets over the difliculty of making new editions, for obviously several entirely different negatives may be used, and where three colored pictures are made, there is no difficulty in arranging for the correct registration of the separate book discs .or book elements.

operated by said first named means for bold lng said book when the correct amount of shift has been made, including'anarmature fixed to said book and electromagnetic means for holding said armature in whatever position said armature may be.

2. In the art of projecting microphotograpic books, means for determining the correct amount. of shift of said book, means operated by said first named means for holding said bookwhen the correct amount of shift has been made, including an armature fixed to said book and a circular electromagnet for holding said armature in Whatever position said armature may be.

3. In the art of projecting microphotographic books, means for determining the correct amount of shift of said book, means operated by'said first named means for holdin said book when the correct amount of shift has been made, including electromagnetic holding means for holding said book in any position it may be placed.

4. In the art of projecting microphotographic books, means for determining the correct amount of shift of said book, means operated by said first named means for holding said book when the correct amount of shift has been made, including electromagnetic holding means for holding said book in any position it may be placed, and means for releasing said holding means.

5. In the art of projecting microphotographic books in which the book is provided with optical means for reflectin or transmitting a beam of light, the method of determining the correct amount of shift of the book elements which comprises setting said book in motion and when the correct amount of shift has taken place, arresting, by means positioned to be operated by the optical means reflecting or transmitting the beam of light,

the shift of the book.

6. In the art of projecting microphoto graphic books in which the book is provided with optical means for reflecting or transmitting a beam of light, the method of detern'iining the correct amount of shift of the book elements which comprises setting said book in motion and when the correct amount of shift has taken place, arresting, by electrical means positioned to be operated by the optical means reflecting or transmitting the beam of light, the shift of the book.

7. In the art of projecting microphotographic books in which the book is provided with optical means for reflecting or transmitting a beam of light, the method of determining the correct amount of shift of the book elements which com rises setting said book in motionand when tie correct amount of shift has taken place, arresting, by electrical means operated by the electrical effect provided to be produced by the optical means, the shift of the book.

8. In the art of projecting microphotographic books in which the book is provided with optical means for reflecting or trans- 1 niitting a beam of light, the method of establishing the desired amount of shift of the book elements which comprises setting said book in motion, positioning means in the path of operation of the optical means at the proper place to arrest the motion of the book when it has shifted the desired amount and arresting said book by operation of the means so positioned.

9. In the art of projecting microphotographic books in which the book is provided with optical means for reflecting or transmitting-a beam of light, the method of determining the correct amount of shift of the place, arresting, by means positioned to be operated by the optical image, the shift of book element.

11. In the projection of microscopic books, means for shifting and for determining the correct amount of shift of.e.lements of said book including means forming a part of said book, for producing an optical image, and

means cooperating with said means for arresting the shifting motion of said book when the correct amount of shift has taken place.

12. In the projection of microscopic books, means for shifting and for determining the correct amount of shift of elements of said book including means forming a part of said book for producing an optical image and electrical means cooperating with said means for arresting the shifting motion of said book when the correct amount of shift has taken place.

13 In the projection of microscopic books,-

means for shifting and for determining the correct amount of shift of elements of said book including means forming a part of said book for reflecting radiant energy and electrical means operated by the reflected radiant energy for arresting the shifting motion of said. book elements.

14. In the projection of microscopic books, means for shifting and for determining the correct amount of shift of elements of said book including means forming a part of said book for reflecting radiant energy and electrical, means positioned to be operated by a change in the reflected radiant energy of said book for controlling the amount of shift of said book elements.

15. In the projection of microscopic books,

means for shifting and for determining the correct amount of shift of elements of said book including means forming a part of said book, for arresting the movement of the said book elements.

16. In the projection of microscopic books, means for shifting and for determining the correct amount of shift of elements of said book including means forming a part of said book for reflecting radiant energy and means positioned to be operated by the change in radiant energy-effected by the shift of said book for arresting the movement of the said book elements.

17. In the art of projecting microscopic books, means for shifting and for determining the correct amount of shift of elements of said book including a local source'of radiation, means forming a part of said book for reflecting said local radiation said means having non-uniform reflecting qualities, means positioned in the path of re flection of said radiation for controlling the shift of said book element in accordance with the change in reflection. 4

REGINALD A. FESSENDEN. 

